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Palestine/Israel: Destruction of Palestinian women's organisations

Source:

Rose Shomali Musleh

Women’s organizations and charitable societies, like all Palestinian governmental and non-governmental institutions, have suffered considerable financial losses due to closure and curfew imposed by the Israeli army.

Several institutions are now threatened with the prospect of closing down due to lack of revenue, a fact that is reflected in their difficulty to pay salaries, rent and monthly expenses. Theft, destruction of equipment, furnishings and physical structure have added to their financial problems. The Women's Affairs Technical Committee (WATC) coordinators, and grassroots organizations have compiled a report that notes the physical damage done by the Israeli army to some of the Palestinian women’s institutions and welfare societies in the West Bank for the period 29 March 29 – 10 May 2002.

Introduction

Since March 29, 2002, the Israeli Army has been waging against the Palestinian people and its
institutions a systematic war that included bombardment and occupation of
cities, villages, towns and camps, attacks on Governmental and Nongovernmental
institutions, on medical facilities, demolition of houses, arresting thousands
of people and executing massacres in Jenin and Old Nablus. The objective behind
this military occupation is to destroy the infrastructure of the National
Palestinian Authority, and to put an end to the dreams of the Palestinians in
any future independent Palestinian State and the formation of a Palestinian
national identity. The re-conquest of the NPA territories, the massacres
committed in Jenin Camp and in the Old City of Nablus provide a clear message to the Palestinians,
Arabs, and the International Community on the intentions of Israel: It is not
peace they seek but sweeping away the Oslo accords, assassinating the Saudi
Peace Plan, and the compliance of the Palestinians to his terms of the peace.

Women’s organizations and charitable societies, like all the
Palestinian governmental and non-governmental institutions, have suffered a
considerable financial loss due to closure and curfew imposed by the Israeli
army. Several institutions are now threatened to close down due to lack of
revenues, a fact that is reflected in difficulties in payment of salaries, rents
and monthly expenses. Theft, destruction of equipment, furnishings and
physical structure added to the financial loss of these institutions. It is
worth mentioning that some of these institutions were used as residence for the
Israeli army because of the space and the location. It is also noted that most
of the institutions that were previously attacked, or used by the Israeli army
during previous invasions, have been targeted in the last invasion. However, the
most important effect was on children with special needs and their families who
did not have an access to the services of these institutions.

The report
is based mainly on site visits done by the WATC coordinators, and grassroots
organizations representatives in the different areas of the West Bank, in
addition to reports received either by phone or by fax from the institutions
themselves, and checked with WATC coordinators. The report also builds up on the
first preliminary report compiled by Dr. Rema Hammami ( Birzeit University), Dr.
Sari Hanafi Shaml (Refugee and Diaspora Research Center), and Dr. Elizabeth
Taylor. Due to the ongoing curfew and the closure imposed on many of the towns,
cities and camps, it has been difficult for the field coordinators to collect
information about all women’s institutions in some areas.

This report,
will address only the physical damage done by the Israeli army to some of the
Palestinian Women’s institutions, and the Welfare Societies in the West Bank
that address women issues in their programmers. The report will cover the period
March 29 – May 10, 2002.

This society aims at the
empowerment of women through their participation in the social and developmental
aspects of both public and private life in an attempt to build a civic society
based on democracy and the respect of human being. The society advocates for
anti-violence against women and provides assistance for abused women and
children. It also offers leadership training, and promotes gender equality and
civic education.

Vandalism: All office equipment were destroyed. A
photocopier, 2 computers, a canon fax device, a scanner, a tape recorder, 2
telephone devices, an over-head projector and a loud speaker were deliberately
damaged. Office furniture was broken and publications, posters and videotapes
were damaged and thrown on the floor. Most of the kitchen equipment was broken.
The Society car was hit by a tank and damaged while standing in front of the
office.

Structural Damage: Windows were broken, and shutters were
destroyed.Theft: A video camera and NIS
2000 were found missing.

This society provides services for children with special needs:
children who suffer from speech order, and mental disability.The society also provides training for women
and has a toy production workshop.

The society was occupied for 3 days (April 7 –10) and its facilities were used by the
Israelis.Vandalism: The office was all
in a mess; furniture and inside closets were destroyed, and children’s files
and work were strewn all over the floor. Structural Damage: Part of the main wall was demolished, the main
metal gate and the Internal doors were broken in addition to windows of three
rooms.

The society aims at advocating women’s social rights,
and enhancing the role of women in the Palestinian national struggle for freedom
and independence, and for equal opportunities for men and women. The main
activities of the society include adult education, developing skills and
training of women on leadership skills and promoting participation in trade
unions, and other political organizations.Structural Damage: Three windows were broken in the main
office.

The
Union aims at promoting women’s empowerment, and involvement in the National
struggle for liberation and building the State. The Union has branches in all
directorates, that provide services to women and children. Ramallah branch has a
nursery in Ramallah that provides services for children in the age group 2
months – 4 years. The Al –Zuhour Nursery was subject
to assault.

Structural Damage: The main door and seven windows
were broken.Vandalism: Children’s beds
were broken and toys were destroyed
and strewn all over the floor. The pictures were ripped off the walls and
scattered all over the rooms.

The Bethlehem branch of the GUPW is promoting gender awareness
campaigns on issues related to woman’s rights, early marriage, and early
pregnancy. Training on skills needed for income generating projects is being
provided. Support to martyrs’ families and to the wounded is of great concern to
the Union. Bethlehem branch is coordinating with the Ministry of Education
Directorate/ Bethlehem District to provide financial support to vulnerable
children whose families have been affected by the economic recession caused by
the continuous closure on the Directorate.

The premises of the General
Union of Bethlehem Branch have been targeted by the Israeli army several times
during the consecutive invasions to Bethlehem area. The Union’s center was
shelled twice in the first invasion. In the second invasion, the windows were
broken because of shooting. During the last invasion, Rana Sa’di Al-Karja, a
lawyer and a member of the Woman’s Union/ Bethlehem Branch was killed when the
building where she resides was attacked. Her head was smashed and her six-month
baby was heavily wounded.

The association of Women’s
Committees/Bethlehem Branch was established in 1982 to empower women through
services that help them take an important role in their community. The association has a comprehensive
programme that address the needs of women in the different areas of Bethlehem
district This includes training, awareness campaign on gender issues, democracy
and role of women. The association extends its campaigns to all schools (female
and male) to reach them with messages related to risks of early marriage, and
the right of education for all. Family counseling is being provided through the
Guidance and Counseling Center located in Bethlehem. Services of this
center has been extended to the teachers of the eight KGs run by the
Association, and to the families of 300 children enrolled in these KGs. The
Association also provides cultural services for children through the two centers
in Beit-Sahour and in Aida Camp.

The Association’s office, being located
in an area that was exposed to shelling, was hit. The windows facing the
shelling were smashed, and the moquette covering the floor was completely
destroyed.

The society was established in 1944 to provide services in
health education and health Care for children and women. The society extended
its services to include training of teachers on Health Education, a nursery and
a Kg for working mothers, a housing project, in addition to vocational training
in embroidery and clothes making.

Structural Damage:The windows of the
housing buildings were affected by the shelling, which resulted in breaking of
windows. The walls of the buildings were also hit, and some furniture was
destroyed.

This association aims at raising the
socio cultural and status of the Palestinian woman and promotes active
participation in the political life and labour market. The association has 11
licensed KGs in Hebron district in addition to one KG in the Old City of
Hebron.

Due to the curfew on the Old City of Hebron, the KG could not be
reached until this date.

Structural Damage: Being opposite to Tal-Rmideh,
an area that is usually exposed to shelling, the Union’s Office was hit. Eight
water tanks were destroyed, and the office is still suffering from absence of
water. One of the office windows was smashed by a bullet.

Internal
Damage: A fax was hit by shrapnel caused by the shelling on the office.

This society provides services to children in extremely
difficult circumstances. This includes an orphanage that provides shelter &
care to 60 female children, in the age group 6-16, and a center for
visually impaired girls that provide services to 16 blind girls in the age group
15-25. The Society also runs a hospital with 100 beds, and has recently
established Al-Hajja Andalib Al-Amad Nursing College to provide professional
nursing training for 40 female and male students.

Due to the siege
imposed for several days by the Israeli army, food and other basic materials
were difficult to provide for the orphanage and for the hospital.

Medical
equipment, medicine and blood donation was not allowed to reach the hospital
that had at the time 24 critical cases.Charitable Cultural Social SocietyContact:
Jihan Al-Sa’adi GhannamAddress: Al-shweida St.Telefax:
09-2385429

This society is one of the oldest societies in the West Bank.
It was established as a Cultural Center in 1945, and became a Cultural and
Social Society in 1994. The Society has 16 working staff, and its services reach
children and women in Nablus City, its villages and camps. In addition to
cultural activities, the society provides social activities, charitable
services, and day care services through its nursery.

The office of the
society was hit by the shelling that targeted the city of
Nablus.Structural Damage: The office
windows were broken and the internal walls of the center were exposed to
shelling.The Union of Palestinian
Women’s Committees/NablusContact: Miassar
Al-FakihSamra; University St.telefax: 09-2338216

The union was
established in 1980 to provide social services to women and children in Nablus
area. Activities cover vocational training for women, health and cultural
awareness campaigns, in addition to summer camps and remedial education for
children.

The area surrounding the center of the Union was exposed to
shelling by the Apache missiles. The freezer was hit, and, all the preserved
food was destroyed.Structural Damage: 8 windows were broken, and the
telephone network was destroyed.

The institution was established in 1997, to provide services
for children and women. Its main services are Counseling and Training on First
Aid for Women, and Remedial Education in English, in addition to supporting a
Dabka Group for Children

The Center was occupied during the curfew. The
gate and the main door were broken.

Tulkarem District
Institutions

Rawdat Abna’ Al-GhadContact: Fawziyyeh Yahya AboudNablus St. next to the
GUPWTel:09-2675251

This Kindergarten is run by the Union of the
Palestinian Women’s Committees and provides services to 70 children served by
six teachers.

Structural Damage: The main door was
destroyed.

Vandalism: All of the children's toys were thrown on the
ground and many smashed. The wall-to-wall carpeting has been ripped and in some
places removed, the small puppet theater was destroyed.

General
Union of Palestinian Women TulkarimContact: Afaf
Al-KubbagTel:09-2673468 ; 09-2677999 The Tulkarim branch of the GUPW is
promoting empowerment of women through participation in organizations and
unions. The Union/ Tulkarem Branch is involved in community awareness campaigns
on issues related to gender and woman’s rights. It is also engaged in promoting
and marketing embroidery and other traditional handicrafts produced by women in
the rural areas.

Structural Damage:The main door was blown open with
explosives which caused a lot of damage to equipment and furniture. Also the
windows were broken.Internal
destruction:Vandalism: All drawers were
apparently searched and all files were opened and destroyed. The photocopying
machine was damaged and the contents of the embroidery exhibition were ruined,
and all the embroidery had been strewn all over the floor and stepped on. Some
of the token shields honoring martyrs were destroyed, and the kitchen closets
were searched and broken.The Anabta
Women’s Charitable OrganizationContact:
Itaf Al-Qabbajitel 09-2673468; 09-2677999

This charitable
organization was established in 1963 to provide services to women and the
elderly especially in poor families. The association has a staff of 11 and
offers health services and social and cultural activities for women It also
provides relief services for the poor and an outreach services for 40 elders, in
addition to operating a preschool for 240 children. The building where the
Society Office is located was attacked on April 3, 2002 when Anabta town was
occupied, and a curfew was imposed for 10 days. This was not the first time the
building was attacked by the Israeli army. Two months earlier, Anabta was
occupied, and clashes took place in the surrounding of the organization office
where 4 Palestinian Policemen were killed. The damage caused by the first
invasion was repaired; however, the second invasion caused new damage to the
building. The information in this report covers only the damage caused during the second
invasion.

Structural Damage: The outside wall was blown up with
explosives, which in turn caused damage to the building. The gate had several
bullets or shrapnel holes in it, and the windows broke down. The playground wall
was partially destroyed, and the ceiling of the children’s interior playground.

The society runs a KG, a library and has 2 swimming pools and
a playground. The society, making use of its facilities, provides activities for
children in summer such as story telling, swimming, and out-door
activities.External DestructionThe
Israeli army destroyed the plants in the garden, and the out-door play
equipment.Dar Al-Yatim
SocietyHusnieh DabdoubThis society provides shelter and care
for orphan children. It has 2 sections: one for boys and one for
girls.

This society was established in 1966 to provide services for
children and women. The society runs a KG that provides day care services for
100 children. In addition, the society reaches 120 women through training
workshops on agriculture, cultural issues, and dressmaking. The society occupies
the first floor in the same building where Fateh’s office is located in the
second floor. The shelling of Fateh’s office affected the Society office
badly.

Structural Damage The ceiling of the main hall was destroyed,
windows were broken, and the door was damaged. The KG playground was left
without a cover, and outdoor play equipment was damaged.

The association aims at integrating the
deaf into their community through teaching them to read and write, providing
them with computer skills, and through empowering them and preparing them to be
active participants in society. Vocational training Center was established for
children in the age group 15 –18, in addition to a Guidance and Counseling
center to help families deal with their children and communicate with them
through Signal Language. A boarding section was established for children who
can’t commute on a daily basis. The association is a member of the Arab
Association for the Deaf, and it provides its services to 300 deaf and their
families in the Qalkilia area.

Vandalism: Most of the office equipment
were destroyed; a photocopier, a fax device, 3 computers, a printer, an overhead
projector, video camera, All drawers were apparently searched and all files were
opened.

Structural Damage: Windows were broken. The main gate, 2 entry
doors and the internal wooden doors for six classrooms were
broken.

Al-Murabitat SocietyRukayyahh
NaazzalTel: 09-2940074; 09-2940283

This society is one of the first
societies established in North of the West Bank. The society serves 46 border
children and 10 day students that are hearing impaired, in addition to
counseling services for hearing impaired children through its clinic. The
society extends its programme to women through training on clothes making,
tricot, and hairdressing. The society also provides day care services through
its KG and nursery.

The most important problem faced by the society is
related to the curfew and siege imposed on Kalkilia district that prohibited
children from receiving the diagnosis and the treatment needed.

The association aims at improving women’s economic, social and
cultural situation of women especially in rural areas. The association offers
services that include 9 KGs and 2 nurseries and children’s centers distributed
al over Jenin Governate.

Vandalism: The office of the association in
Jenin was occupied and the following equipment was damaged: a computer, a
printer, a camera, a TV and a video set. In addition, an office desk and office
chairs were broken. All drawers were searched and all files were
destroyed.